Material handling device



June 29, 1965 H. E. DAvls MATERIAL HANDLING DEVICE Bim MM Filed April 1, 1963 INV ENTOR.

,therefrom and from the case, when in use.

United States Patent O 3,i9l,768 MATERIAL HANDLHNG DER/ECE Hazel E. Davis, 5991 Rose, Long Beach, Calif. Filed Apr. l, i963, Ser. No. 269,622 3 Claims. (Cl. 20e-56) This invention relatees to an improved material handling device and is more particularly concerned with a device for handling lip rouge, in the form of an elongate stick and ordinarily referred to as lip stick.

The present invention involves certain improvements in the structure disclosed in my Patent No. 2,720,965, issued October 13, 1955, and entitled Material Handling Device.

The structure disclosed in my above-identified patent involves a conventional helical cam-actuated lipstick dispensing case wherein the lipstick is engaged in and carried by an axially-shiftable carrier or cup, to normally project This structure further includes ejecting means for selectively urging and shifting the lipstick from the carrier cup, when the stick is worn down to a point where all that remains is within the contines of said cup and is not accessible, whereby the unaccessible portion of the stick can be made accessible and with the result that the entire lipstick can be used.

The ejecting means in the above-identified patented structure includes a false bottom in the carrier cup, a threaded stem secured to the false bottom and threadedly engaged in an opening in the bottom of the cup to project axially therefrom and operating means to rotate the stem so as to advance the false bottom in the cup to eject the lipstick therefrom. The operating means includes a cuplike closure member engaged in an enlarged head at one end of the case, a spindle rotatably carried bythe closure, a manually engageable disc-shaped operating knob carried by the spindle at one end thereof and at the exterior of the closure, and a rip-like key on the other end of the spindle to occur within the case and oppose the free end of the stem and engageable in a key slot provided in the opposing free end of the stem.

n operation, the cup is advanced or shifted in the case, by means of the conventional helical cam means, to the end of the case where the head occurs Vand to a position where the free end of the stern engages the spindle. The cam means and the operating means are then manipulated so that the key on the spindle enters or engages in the slot in the stem. This is generally a troublesome operation as the connection sought to be gained occurs within the case construction where it cannot be viewed and the additional axial movement of the stem required to make said engagement is slight. Once the connection is made between the stem and the spindle, the knob is turned, resulting in screwing the stem am'ally relative to the cup, advancing the false bottom in the cup and ejecting the lipstick from within the cup.

The principal disadvantages and shortcomings existing in my above-noted patented construction are as follows: First, the operating means involving the cup-like closure, the spindle and the operating knob, involves an excessive number of parts, the manufacture and assembly of which materially increases the cost of that construction and prohibits its manufacture at a price competitive with other` lipstick dispensing devices and manifoldly increases the possibility of manufacturing error and subsequent rnechanical failure. Second, the fact that the construction, like other similar constructions is established of light weight sheet metal and the fact that the several bearing surfaces within the ejecting means are small or short, results in a rather weak, unstable construction wherein the stem of the ejecting means and the spindle are sub- ICC ject to becoming misaligned with the result that the desired driving connection therebetween cannot be obtained. And finally, as mentioned above, dueto the fact that the connection between the stem and the spindle is hidden from the view of the operator, the operator must ordinarily blindly manipulate and jimmy the construction in order to establish driving engagement between the stem and spindle, it being very infrequent that the key and slot will be in register upon initial shifting of the stem into engagement with the spindle.

An object of my invention is to provide an improved lipstick dispensing device of the general character referred to wherein the ejecting means includes a minimum number of easy and economical-to-manufacture and easy-toassemble parts, there being but three parts involved, as distinguished from live parts in the construction provided in Patent No. 2,720,965. v

Another object of my invention is to provide an improved self-aligning and self-seating driving connection between the ejector stem and the operating means therefor, whereby the said driving connection is assuredly established upon initial shifting of the stem into engagement with the operating means.

It is an lobject of my invention to provide an improved lipstick dispensing construction of the general character referred to which is neat; compact; involves a minimum number of parts; is easy and economical to manufacture; and a construction which is highly effective and dependable in operation.

The various objects and features of my invention will be fully understood from the following detailed description of typical preferred forms and applications of the invention, throughout which description reference is made to the accompanying drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 is an isometric view of a device embodying the invention.

FIG. 2 is an enlarged longitudinal sectional view of the device provided by the present invention and showing Vthe carrier positioned in the body with the exposed end of the lipstick accessible at the exterior of the body and with the ejecting'means disengaged.

FIG. 3 is a view similar to FIG. 2, showing the lip stick used until there is but a limited portion projecting froml the cup and showing the false bottom in the carrier cup operated to a position where a portion of the material has been ejected and showing the ejecting means in operating position.

FIG. 4 is a sectional view taken as indicated by line 4 4 on FIG. 2.

FIG. 5 is an enlarged detailed sectional view of a portion of the construction that I provide.

FIG. 6 is an'isometric View of an end portion of my construction and showing another form of operating means for the ejecting means.

FIG. 7 is a sectional view similar to a portion of the construction shown in FIG. 2 and showing another form of operating means.

FIG. 8 is a view similar to FIG. 7 and showing the construction in a different position.

The device provided for carrying the lipstick S includes, generally, a body A, a material carrying cup B in the body, operating means C for shifting the carrier cup longitudinally in the body, material ejecting means D provided for pushing or ejecting material from the carrier cup B, and if desired, the structure may include a cap E and other features of the construction such as will hereinafter be mentioned.

The lipstick S is an elongate cylindrical body of colored grease or wax-like material.

The -body A of the device has a main portion 10, tubular in form, and in the case illustrated has a head 11 at what may be termed the inner end of the body portion 10. In the case illustrated, the tubular portion 1G of the body is open at its outer end, and the head 11 occurring at the inner end portion l@ is in the nature of an enlargement involving `an annular end 12 projecting radially outwardly from the body portion and an annular cylindrical handle portion `13 projecting axially inwardly from the end 12 and having an annular radially-inwardly-projecting retaining lip 14 established at its inner terminal end as by a suitable rolling operation. The head 1-1, formed integrally with the body portion 10 establishes an axially outwardly-opening chamber or cavity X.

T-he material carrying cup B is located in the cylindrical body portion 19 and is preferably in the form of a cup having a cylindrical side wall 20 and a bottom 21. The cup is of a size or outside diameter as to freely fit in the tubular portion 16 of the body, and it is disposed in the body so that it opens outwardly or towards the open end of the body portion 10. In accordance with conventional practice followed in devices provided for handling lip- 'sticks, the inner -or base kend Y of the lipstick S is carried in and completely occupies the carrier cup B. The lipstick S projects outwardly from the cup and has, initially, Va suitably shaped outer end 22 that can be applied to or upon the lips where when the cup is positioned in the body A, so that this end of the stick projects in the body in a manner lsuch as is indicated in FIG. 2 of the drawings. The stick may be lof such length initially that the cup is at the inner end portion of the body land has its end 22 close to or preferably within the open end of the body portion 10 when the cup is fully retracted. As the lipstick is used for worn away, the cup can be operated by a means C, -causing it to move toward the open end of the body portion 10, with consequent advance of the stick in or through the body.

The operating means C provided for operating or shifting the carrier cup lengthwise in the body portion 10, and in the` structure illustrated, is a cam means of simple form and construction. The particular means C shown in the drawings involves an outer element or sleeve 39, tubular vin form and surrounding the body portion 10, and an inner portion or cam liner 31 within the sleeve 30 and surrounding the body portion 10. In the case illustrated kthe sleeve 30 is substantially co-extensive with the body portion 16, so that it has one end abutting the end 12 of the head 11, whiiethe other end i-s at and projects slightly `from the open end of the body where it is curved inwardly at 33. The cam liner 3-1 is initially formed asa at blank. j Y

This blank is wrapped or bent into cylindrical form so that it has `an inner end 34 abutting the end 12 of the head, and an outer end 35 at the open end of the body 11 where it is engaged. by an outwardly-projecting lip 36 on the outer end of the body. In the cylindrical or wrapped form, the cam liner is tight in the sleeve 3i) and it has opposed cam edges or faces 37 that define a spiral camway 38.

A cam follower 39 projects from the exterior of the cup B through a longitudinal guide slot 40 in the body 10 and into the camway 33. With the construction just described, the lip 36 on the open end of the body portion 10 contines the assembled sleeve and cam liner on the body portion 10 for rotation relative thereto, without movement lengthwise thereof. Through engagement of the cam follower 39 in the camway 38, rotation of the sleeve 30, with the cam liner tight in it, causes longitudinal movement of the cup in the body portion 10.

The material-ejecting means D, provided by the present invention, serves to eject .material of the stick S from within the carrie-r cup B as such material is required for use. In accordance with the invention, the material-eject ing means involves, generally, an ejector or false bottom in the carrier cup B, a stem S1 engaging the false bottom and projecting inwardly therefrom.

The false bottom may be a simple, at, disc-shaped element `carried in the cup to slide lengthwise thereof, and it is initially :located at the extreme inner end of the stick S to be tight between the bottom or inner end of the stick and the bottom 21 of the cup.

The stem 51 is an elongate externally threaded member threadedly engaged in a central opening 54 in the bottom 21 of the cup to extend longitudinally of the structure and is so engaged with the false bott-om as to be operable to push the false bottom outwardly in the cup, preferably far enough out in the cup to eject practically all of the material of the stick from the cup. To gain the desi-red operation of the false bottom, the stem 51 is of substantial length and when the false bot-tom is against the bottom wall 21 of the cup, the stem projects below or inward of the cup a substantial distance.

With this construction as the stem is rotated, it is caused to move lengthwise of the cup, and if rotated in the proper direction, it will advance into the cup, pushing the false bottom toward the open end of the cup.

The lower or inner end of the stern 51 is provided with an enlarged downwardly-convergent conical head 60 provided with a plurality of circumferentially-spaced axially-extending ribs or teeth 61 about its exterior.

The `operating means for the stem 51 involves a unitary .actuator 65 having a substantially at radiallydisposed annular body portion 66, a central axially-in-A wardly-projecting inwardly convergent fluted central por ltion 67 delining an upwardly or outwardly-opening, `out wardly-divergent ribbed socket 68 adapted to coopera tively receive the head on the stem, an axially-extending annular sleeve portion 69 with an axially inwardly-dis-` posed stop shoulder 70 about the outer perimeter of the annular body portion and projecting axially inwardly therefrom and a radially-outwardly-extending annular re taining and operating flange 7-1 at the inner end of the `sleeve and cooperating with said sleeve land stop shoulder to denne an annular radially-outwardly-opening lip-re` ceiving groove 72.

The lip-receiving groove 72 of the actuator is 4of such radial and axial extent as to cooperatively receive the 'retaining lip 14 on the head 11 of the body A with run ning bearing clearance.

In the preferred carrying out of the invention, the retaining and operating Ilange 71 of the actuator correa sponds in `outside. diameter with the outside diameter of the head 11 of the body A and is preferably knurled yor ribbed about its outer perimeter to facilitate gripping the flange between ones fingers for operation of the construction.

The actuator is a unitary sheet metal part established by a suitable punching and forming operation. The point of joiner or corner where the -body portion -of the actuator and the sleeve portion thereof join, is `suitably rradiused or lrounded and provides a suitable need to facilitate assembly of the construction.

In assembling the const-ruction, the actuator is arranged adjacent the lower end of the chamber X in the head portion 11 of the body A and is urged axially inwardly therein, by the retaining lip 14 and until the lip 14 snaps int-o engagement in the groove 72. When the actuator is thus assembled with the body A, it will be apparent that it is suitably supported for free rotation relative to the body and is held against axial displacement relative to the body by the stop shoulder 69 and ange 71.

In operation and when the head 6i) on the stern 51 is .urged downwardly and into engagement with the actuator, it will be apparent that the lstern is urged and/or maintained in axial alignment in the `construction by the conical socket 68 of the actuator. Further, it will lbe .apparent that as the head on the stem engages and seats in the socket in the actuator, the plurality of ribs or case 4on the head mes-h and establish driving engagement with the corresponding or mating ribs in the socket.

`In the form of the invention shown in FIG. 6, the actuator is provided with a star-shaped or polygonal open ing 63 at its central portion to cooperatively receive the head on the stem, instead of or in place of the cone` shaped socket-forming lcentral portion provided in the iirst form of the invention.

In the form of the invention shown .in FIGS. 7 and 8, the stem 51 is provided with an enlarged head 75 having a polygonal, axially-inwardly-opening, axially-outwardly convergent polygonal socket 76. The actuator in this form of the invention, like the actuator in the iirst form of the invention, is a unitary sheet metal part formed by a suitable stamping and forming operation and has a fiat radially-disposed annular body portion 66',- a central axially-inwardly-projecting, axially-inwardly convergent polygonal central portion 67 `and an axially-extending cylindrical, outer, sleeve portion 69' projecting axially outwardly from the outer perimeter of the body portion. The inner end portion of the sleeve portion 69' is provided with a radially-outwardly-opening retaining lip-receiving groove 72 to cooperatively receive the lip 14 on the head portion 11 of the body A. The inner portion of the sleeve portion 69 establishes a radially-outWardly-disposed linger-engaging surface 71 which surface can be suitably knurled or liuted, as circumstances require or as desired.

The outer end of the sleeve portion 69 is formed to establish a radially-inwardly and axially outwardly inclined leading surface 72' to facilitate engagement of the actuator with the retaining lip 14 and in the chamber X'.

lt will be apparent that in this third form of the invention, the actuator is suitably rotatably carried by the head portion of the body A and is held against displacement therewith by the engagement of the retaining lip in the groove 72.

In operation, this third form of the invention is substantially the same as that in the iirst form of the invention except that the conical polygonal central portion 67 of the actuator engages and seats in the polygonal socket in the head on the stem, when the stem is urged axially inwardly into engagement with the actuator and instead of the reverse situation as is the case in the said first form of the invention.

Having described only typical preferred forms and applications of my invention, I do not wish to be limited to the specific details herein set forth, but wish to reserve to myself any modifications or variations that may appear to those skilled in the art and fall within the scope of the following claims:

Having described my invention, I claim:

l. A device for handling a substantially solid stick of material including an elongate tubular body with an open outer end and having an inwardly opening tubular head on the inner end thereof, said head having a radially inwardly projecting annular retaining lip, a cup with an axial cylindrical side wall and a flat bottoni slidable longitudinal in the body and carrying a stick facing the outer end of the body, means adapted to operate the cup longitudinally in the body including a sleeve around the body, a cam liner in the sleeve and around the body and having a camway therein and a cam follower projecting from the cup and operating in the camway, the body having a longitudinal guide slot passing the follower from the cup to the camway, and means adapted to eject material from the cup, including, a substantially fiat false bottom in the cup slidably engaged therewith and shiftable longitudinally thereof, the false bottom being at against and conned to the end of the stick of material, an elongate threaded stem threadedly engaged through the bottom of the cup and shiftable axially relative to the cup and fixed to the false bottom, the stem projecting away from the bottom of the stick of material and from the cup, and means operating the stem including an enlarged axially-inwardly convergent polygonal head on the stem, a unitary cylindrical actuator arranged within the head of the body and having an axially-outwardly divergent polygonal socket opposing the head on the stem and a radially outwardly opening groove slidably receiving the retaining lip, whereby said actuator is rotat- 6 ably carried by the head on the body and cooperatively receives and establishes driving engagement with the head on the stem when the stem is shifted downwardly in the construction by relative rotation of the body and sleeve, said actuator having a finger-engaging portion accessible at the exterior of the body head.

2. A device for handling a substantially solid stick of material including, an elongate tubular body with an open outer end and having an inwardly opening tubular head on the inner end thereof, said head having a radially inwardly projecting annular retaining lip at its outer end, a cup with an axial cylindrical side wall and a flat bottom slidable longitudinally in the body and carrying the stick facing the outer end of the body, means adapted to operate the cup longitudinally in the body including a sleeve around the body, a cam liner in the sleeve and around the body and having a camway therein and a cam follower projecting from the cup and operating in the camway, the body having a longitudinal guide slot passing the follower from the cup to the camway, and means adapted to eject material from the cup including, a substantially dat false bottom in the cup slidably engaged therewith and shiftable longitudinally thereof, the false bottom being at against and confined to the end of the stick of material, an elongate threaded stem threadedly engaged through the bottom of the cup and shiftable axially relative to the cup and fixed to the false bottom, the stem projecting away from the bottom of 4the stick of material and from the cup, and means operating the stem including, an enlarged head with an axiallyinwardly-opening axially-outwardly convergent polygonal socket on the inner end of `the stem, a unitary cylindrical actuator with a central axially-outwardly projecting and axially-outwardly convergent polygonal projection rotatably engaged in and carried by the head and having a radially outwardly opening groove receiving the retaining lip, said projection adapted to cooperatively enter and establish driving engagement in the socket in the head on the stem when the stem is urged downwardly by relative rotation of the sleeve and the body, said actuator having a finger-engaging portion accessible at the exterior of the body head.

3. A device for handling a substantially solid stick of material including an elongate tubular body with an open outer end and an elongate inwardly opening tubular head on the inner end thereof, said head having an annular radially inwardly projecting retaining lip at its inner end, a cup with an axial cylindrical side wall vand a at bottom slidable longitudinal in the body and carrying a stick facing the outer end of the body, means adapted to operate the cup longitudinally in the body including a sleeve around the body, a cam liner in the sleeve and around the body and having a camway therein and a cam follower projecting from the cup and operating in the camway, the body having a longitudinal guide slot passing the follower from the cup to the camway, and means adapted to eject material from the cup, including, a substantially fiat false bottom in the cup slidably engaged therewith and shiftable longitudinally thereof, the false bottom being flat against and confined to the end of the stick of material, an elongate threaded stern threadedly engaged through the bottom of the cup and shiftable axially relative to the cup and fixed to the false bottom, the stem projecting away from the bottom of the stick of material and from the cup, and means operating the stem including a driven portion on the inner end of the stem, a unitary cylindrical actuator with a central drive portion opposing said driven portion and rotatably engaged in and carried by the head and having a radially outwardly opening groove receiving the retaining lip, one of said portions defining an axially divergent polygonal head, the other portion defining an axially divergent polygonal opening opposing and adapted to cooperatively receive and establish driving engagement with the polygonal head when said stem is shifted axially inwardly into References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 8/51 Braselton 206-56 10/55 Davis 206-56 8 12/57 Fuller et al. 206-56 FOREIGN PATENTS 11/58 Great Britain.

THERON E. CONDON, Primary Examiner. 

3. A DEVICE FOR HANDLING A SUBSTANTIALLY SOLID STICK OF MATERIAL INCLUDING AN ELONGATE TUBULAR BODY WITH AN OPEN OUTER END AND AN ELONGATE INWARDLY OPENING TUBULAR HEAD ON THE INNER END THEREOF, SAID HEAD HAVING AN INNER RADIALLY INWARDLY PROJECTING RETAINING LIP AT ITS INNER END, A CUP WITH AN AXIAL CYLINDRICAL SIDE WALL AND A FLAT BOTTOM SLIDABLE LONGITUDINAL IN THE BODY AND CARRYING A STICK FACING THE OUTER END OF THE BODY, MEANS ADAPTED TO OPERATE THE CUP LONGITUDINALLY IN THE BODY INCLUDING A SLEEVE AROUND THE BODY, A CAM LINER IN THE SLEEVE AND AROUND THE BODY AND HAVING A CAMWAY THEREIN AN A CAM FOLLOWER PROJECTING FROM THE CUP AND OPERATING IN THE CAMWAY, THE BODY HAVING A LONGITUDINAL GUIDE SLOT PASSIN THE FOLLOWER FROM THE CUP TO THE CAMWAY, AND MEANS ADAPTED TO EJECT MATERIAL FROM THE CUP, INCLUDING, A SUBSTANTIALLY FLAT FALSE BOTTOM IN THE CUP SLIDABLY ENGAGED THEREWITH AND SHIFTABLE LONGITUDINALLY THEREOF, THE FALSE BOTTOM BEING FLAT AGAINST AND CONFINED TO THE END OF THE STICK OF MATERIAL, AN ELONGATE THREADED STEM THREADEDLY ENGAGED THROUGH THE BOTTOM OF THE CUP AND SHIFTABLE AXIALLY RELATIVE TO THE CUP AND FIXED TO THE FALSE BOTTOM, THE STEM PROJECTING AWAY FROM THE BOTTOM OF THE STICK OF MATERIAL AND FROM THE CUP, AND MEANS OPERATING THE STEM INCLUDING A DRIVEN PORTION ON THE INNER END OF THE STEM, A UNITARY CYLINDRICAL ACTUATOR WITH A CENTRAL DRIVE PORTION OPPOSING SAID DRIVEN PORTION AND ROTATABLY ENGAGED IN AND CARRIED BY THE HEAD AND HAVING A RADIALLY OUTWARDLY OPENING GROOVE RECEIVING THE RETAINING LIP, ONE OF SAID PORTIONS DEFINING AN AXIALLY DIVERGENT POLYGONAL HEAD, THE OTHER PORTTION DEFINING AN AXIALLY DIVERGENT POLYGONAL OPENING OPPOSING AND ADAPTED TO COOPERATIVELY RECEIVE AND ESTABLISH DRIVING ENGAGEMENT WITH THE POLYGONAL HEAD WHEN SAID STEM IS SHIFTED AXIALLY INWARDLY INTO ENGAGEMENT WITH SAID ACTUATOR HAVING A FINGER-ENGAGING BODY AND SLEEVE, SAID ACTUATOR HAVING A FINGER-ENGAGING PORTION ACCESSIBLE AT THE INNER END OF THE CONSTRUCTION. 